Find your perfect cleaner

Cleaner

A cleaner is someone experienced in coming to your property and cleaning it. Cleaners deal with a number of different tasks including basic cleaning, spring cleans, deep cleans when you are selling or renting your home and other jobs. Cleaners will usually clean your home from top to bottom and are trained to use products and techniques to make your home as clean as possible. Some cleaners will specialise in cleaning textiles like carpets and curtains or will employ someone, especially to clean your windows or hard-to-reach places like ovens or shower drains. These professionals are able to advise you on the best products to use to clean your home and what will be both cost-effective and long-lasting. If you are selling your house and need a deep clean or even want to employ a regular cleaning service, it would be good to give the project to the expertise of a professional cleaner.

How to hire a cleaner?

Hiring a cleaner is one of those jobs that needs to be done quickly and efficiently so you should put some research into who you should hire. It is a good idea to get a recommendation from people you know who have had a full clean done by a cleaning company before moving or have taken on a regular cleaner recently or even ask at your local community centre. You will want to find someone with a lot of experience and who will be professional and quick in all aspects of the job.

If you cannot find a recommendation from someone you know, you should be able to find someone either online through their website or online platforms like Checkatrade.com . When you find some professionals who provide the service you need, including regular cleaning and maintenance and window cleaning and any other extra services like carpet cleaning, make sure you read any reviews featured online. A cleaner’s online presence should clearly display their qualifications, experience, what services they provide and whether they are part of an association like the Checkatrade , who have codes of conduct to reassure the customer that their members are experienced and trustworthy.

When you have found a cleaner you are happy with, arrange to meet them at your property to talk through the project you want done - including any restrictions and the timeframe - and if you have any special requests, such as carpet or window cleaning. From here, they should be able to walk you through the process of cleaning your home, advise you on making the most of your budget and give you an estimate of price and timeframe. If you are still not sure about this particular cleaner, ask if you can speak to previous clients and find out how efficiently they can get the job done onsite.

What services do cleaners provide?

Cleaners are trained in cleaning and maintaining cleanliness and tidiness inside and outside your home. Cleaners deal with a number of different tasks, including basic cleaning, spring cleans, deep cleans when you are selling or renting your home and other jobs. Others can do bigger jobs like carpet cleaning or window cleaning, graffiti removal or gutter cleaning. These professionals can be especially helpful when you are selling your home and want to impress prospective buyers. Cleaners are usually experienced and can usually advise on the best products for your home and what maintenance you will need in the future.

How much does it cost to hire a cleaner?

The cost of hiring a cleaner will be very varied on the size of the project, what products are needed and how labour intensive the job is. If you are completely deep cleaning your property, this will be a lot more expensive than a regular maintenance job. If you agree to keep on the cleaner long term, they may decide to lower the price too. It will be up to you and the individual cleaner you hire to organise a payment plan before you draw up a contract. A lot of cleaners will charge by the hour but others will have a daily or fixed fee depending on the job. Make sure you know exactly what is included in the price before you go ahead with the job as you do not want to get a nasty surprise if it does not include VAT.

What questions should I ask my cleaner?

• Have you done many of these jobs before?
• Do you do carpet cleaning or window cleaning?
• Have you worked on similar properties to mine?
• Do you work on your own or as part of a team?
• Will you be able to advise me on the best cleaning products to maintain my home long term?
• Do you provide any cleaning supplies or do I need to get these?
• Do you offer regular maintenance services too?
• Can you advise me on how to get the best out of my budget?
• How long will the job take?
• Can I get a written estimate before you start the job?
• Does your estimate include everything - materials, labour, VAT?
• Do you have up-to-date paperwork and insurance?
• Can I speak to past clients or get references about the past work you have done?